Chick Harris to Replace Zampese

Chick Harris, who groomed Jerome Bettis as the Rams’ tailback this past season, was named the team’s offensive coordinator Wednesday.

Harris, Ram running back coach for two seasons, replaces Ernie Zampese, who left last week to become the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive coordinator.

Harris will continue to coach the running backs in his new capacity.

His philosophy is suited to Coach Chuck Knox’s ground-oriented offense, although Harris promises a balanced attack. “As far as our offense is concerned, we’re not going to be Ground Chuck or Ground Chick,” Harris said. “We’re going to take the best of what has been accomplished here under Ernie and what we have done on the ground the last two years.”

He takes over an offense that ranked 23rd in the NFL in passing (174.4 yards a game) and fifth in rushing (125.9 yards). Under Harris’ guidance, Bettis rushed for 1,429 yards, second in the league behind Emmitt Smith’s 1,486.

Harris, 47, originally joined Knox’s staff in Buffalo in the 1981-82 season. He coached the offensive backfield under Knox with the Seattle Seahawks in 1983-91 before joining the Ram staff in ’92.

The Rams are in the process of giving two-year contract extensions to their current assistant coaches, indicating that the team plans to honor the final two seasons of Coach Chuck Knox’s four-year contract.